Tim Howard says the players have lost respect for Erik ten Hag (Picture: Getty)
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard has claimed there is a ‘lack of respect’ present between Erik ten Hag and his players after their latest defeat.
United slumped to their sixth Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday, December 2 as they were soundly beaten 1-0 by Newcastle at St James’ Park.
The result leaves the Red Devils now five points off the top four and intensifies pressure once again on their Dutch manager.
At one point in Saturday’s match, Ten Hag could be seen arguing with striker Anthony Martial from the sidelines.
It’s not the first public spat the 53-year-old has had with one of his players this campaign and for Howard, it is a clear sign that some players have lost respect for their manager.
‘Players will take any excuse to bottle it, they’ll take any excuse to say it’s not my fault,’ the American said on NBC.
‘And at United, it’s been that way for a very long time. We’ve spoken to Bruno Fernandes, twice, and he told us, straight up, he’s [Ten Hag] a disciplinarian, he wants us to be on time, he wants us to do what he says.
Anthony Gordon inflicted another defeat on Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
‘And we thought ‘oh wow, we kind of like this guy’. We sat back we watched and listened how are you going to handle this monumental situation that is Cristiano Ronaldo – he handled it well.
‘But since then he’s fallen out with Varane, Maguire, Rashford, Sancho, Martial. And I’m thinking I’ve played for teams under Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, big personalities.
‘You know, they have one or two example-making moments and then everyone else falls in line.
More: Trending
‘They don’t continually fall out with players. So I think there’s a lack of respect there.’
United have little time to lick the wounds from their latest defeat as they prepare to host Chelsea on Wednesday, December 6.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side currently sit tenth on the Premier League table, but could move to within two points of United with a win.
MORE : Gary Neville ‘bored’ of Manchester United and doesn’t want to watch their games
MORE : Man City star Erling Haaland could face FA charge following furious outburst at referee Simon Hooper
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below